Pakistan nearly doubled its hydropower generation in February, sharply reducing reliance on costly imported fuels as increased reservoir releases transformed the country's energy mix.

Official data shows that water outflows from Tarbela and Mangla dams rose dramatically from 27,000 cusecs at the end of January to nearly 90,000 cusecs by February 27. This surge enabled a significant expansion in hydroelectric output, allowing authorities to scale back thermal generation.

In a bid to contain costs, the government operated only one RLNG-based power plant during the month, while furnace oil-based generation was completely suspended-even during peak demand periods such as Iftar, Taraweeh and Sehr.

At Tarbela, inflows declined from 17,000 cusecs to 11,400 cusecs over the same period, yet outflows still increased from 17,000 to 35,000 cusecs. Mangla showed a similar pattern: inflows edged up from 6,700 to 7,400 cusecs, but outflows surged from 10,000 to 55,000 cusecs, underscoring the deliberate release strategy to maximise hydel output.

A spokesperson for the Power Division said electricity demand was being met efficiently through hydro generation, supported by improved water availability and minimal use of gas-based plants.

The February performance follows a strong January, when the national grid recorded its highest-ever peak generation for the month at 16,584 megawatts, with an average output of 12,239 megawatts. Total electricity production reached 9,106 gigawatt-hours, exceeding projections by around 14 percent and marking a 13 percent increase compared with January 2025.

This achievement came despite significant constraints. Major outages included a 1,040 MW shutdown at K-3, a 1,180 MW outage at Haveli Bahadur Shah, disruptions at the Sahiwal coal plant, and a 300 MW refuelling outage at C-III.

Authorities maintained grid stability through strict adherence to merit-order dispatch, optimising available thermal resources while carefully managing hydropower within water limits. Transmission systems were closely monitored to prevent cascading failures, ensuring uninterrupted supply during periods of heightened demand.

The data highlights a shift toward lower-cost electricity generation driven by water resource management, though it also underscores the system's dependence on reservoir conditions and operational balancing to sustain efficiency.